Rangi and Papan

In Polynesian mythology, Rangi (Father Sky) and Papa (Mother Earth) were
the two supreme creator
deities.
They were the source from which all things in the universe originated,
including other gods, humans, and the various creatures and features of
the earth. Rangi and Papa played an especially important role in the
mythology of the Maori people of New Zealand.

deity
god or goddess

According to Maori mythology, Rangi and Papa were created from two
primal
beings—Te Po (night) and Te Kore (emptiness)—who existed in
a darkness of
chaos
before the creation of the universe. From the beginning, Rangi and Papa
were locked together in a tight and continuing embrace. Into the darkness
between their bodies sprang many offspring, including numerous gods.

Trapped between the bodies of their parents, the deities had little space
to move around and no light to see. Weary of this situation, the offspring
discussed how they could escape the confines of their existence. Tu, the
god of war, suggested that they kill Rangi and Papa, but Tane, the god of
the forests, had a different solution. Tane suggested that they make space
for themselves by separating their parents. The other gods agreed with
this plan except for the wind god Tawhiri, who roared his disapproval.

Several of the gods attempted to separate Rangi and Papa. The first to try
was Rongo, the god of cultivated plants. Although he pushed with all his
might, he was unable to separate the couple. Next to try was Tangaroa, the
god of the sea. He also failed, as did Haumia, the god of wild plants and
vegetables, and Tu, the war god. Finally, it was time for Tane to try. The
god of the forests placed his head on his mother Papa, raised his feet in
the air, and pushed upward against his father Rangi. Using all his might,
Tane finally separated Rangi and Papa, pushing Rangi up into the sky and
pressing Papa to the earth.

With Rangi and Papa separated, the space between them became flooded with
light. The various deities, humans, and other offspring who had been
trapped there scattered into the world. Freed at last, the children of
Rangi and Papa began to quarrel among themselves, especially Tane and the
sea god Tangaroa. Polynesians believe that the conflicts between the gods
cause such things as the growth of weeds in fields, the differences
between humans and animals, and the storms that threaten boats at sea.

Heartbroken at being separated from his beloved Papa, Rangi cried. His
tears rained down upon the earth from the sky, causing great flooding. At
the same time, the wind god Tawhiri showed his anger with his brothers by
sending storms and winds to batter the earth, causing great destruction to
the forests, seas, and fields. Only the war god Tu could resist his
brother, but their struggle flooded the earth, leaving only the islands of
Polynesia.

primal
earliest; existing before other things

chaos
great disorder or confusion

Over time the offspring of Rangi and Papa multiplied and filled the earth
with life. But Rangi still cries from time to time when he misses Papa,
and his tears fall as rain or as drops of morning dew.